There's a lot that can change in a decade, especially in the field of long-term living. The first Green House home opened in 2003, providing a model of care centered around the idea of small size, home layout, and low staff ratio.
Since then, hundreds more homes have been built and the model home has broadened from standalone rural homes to include multiple households in urban buildings. A 22-story one is set to open soon in Manhattan.
As the project reached its 10-year anniversary, the organization reached out to all of its partners to conduct a survey on what design elements have proved successful, which ones haven't, and what they'd change going forward.
Margaret Calkins, president, IDEAS Inc., and Susan Frazier, chief operating officer, The Green House Project, shared some of those lessons during a breakout session at the 2014 EFA Conference in Anaheim, Calif.
Starting with site design and location, Calkins said most homes preferred being integrated into a residential setting than on a separate campus.
"When it feels like a neighborhood, they feel it's successful," she said.
Porch, patio, and yard features were appreciated by all but need to be big enough to accommodate seating and still have room for residents in assisted devices to pass by.
Another resident favorite: outdoor spaces where residents could be actively engaged, including raised bed gardens, gazebos, and patios. And when backyard spaces are connected to other Green House yards, elders found it more communal and easier to meet people.
One design lesson came from facilities who reported they didn't have adequate lighting that provided a sense of safety and visibility for elders using outdoor facilities in the evening. Another common design flaw: outdoor seating areas without shading.
Moving inside, Green House says the successful design elements included access to natural light especially in the hearth areas, whether through windows, skylights or light wells. However in the resident rooms, elders suggested increasing access to natural light, such as installing windows on at least two walls of their rooms.
"Many felt [the rooms] were too dark and felt cramped," Frazier said.
The dining room is the hallmark of the Green House "because that's where life happens," she said, and the organization requires homes to utilize one communal table.
Since homes typically house 8 to 10 residents, the tables should be sized to accommodate large groups but not so wide or long that elders can't talk to each other or pass dishes.
"The table is a symbol of family," Frazier added, and helps keep residents engaged with each other.
Feedback from the study will be part of a new design manual that the organization expects to release this summer.
Overall, she said designers need to think about "the power of normal." To illustrate, she showed an image of a smiling resident settled into a chair and surrounded by her own stuff in her room.
"Think how she lives in response to her own environment," she said.
